tommysmith

Think High Town was done around 2009.

St Peters and Commercial St def need attention more than High Town, but it seems they want it all to look the same paving wise, extending out from Wide marsh St.

I see the Council are running a survey on the Markets in Hereford http://newsroom.herefordshire.gov.uk/2015/september/local-views-and-new-traders-wanted-for-hereford%E2%80%99s-outdoor-markets.aspx

Rarely shop at them myself but the streets look to be quite busy whenever I visit on a Weds or a Sat.

Passed through the event taking place on KGPF earlier. Not many people there. A fair few info stalls but seemed quiet.

Jack Jones is in Old Market.

I see the Steamer CookShop is lined up for the old Dorothy Perkins shop in Commercial St.

Brilliant stuff. Not sure how many personnel BBLP have but as Colin says it will be a great improvement in time for the autumn/winter months.

Don't believe a PSPO is needed here for chuggers.

On one hand they are a pain in the a**e but they are not in every day and they are just trying to earn a living like many other folk.

Also, charities do benefit too at the end of the day.

Whenever I have said no firmly, they have always been fine.

I reckon this form of fundraising activity must surely have peaked by now and they will find other ways to do it.

Interesting piece here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34168129

Don't mind who organises it, but it is a good idea to have community initiatives such as this.

Bill Spanner, not Tanner.

Hereford Times is an over priced rag, full of adverts, in my opinion.

I too would never give my details to a chugger.

Having said that, they do not bother me, as its not that hard to say no, even if you have to say it more than once or several times as you traverse through High Town. Definitely recall seeing these type in most other towns/cities I've visited. I also saw that Maylords seem to allow these types onto their land also.

Buskers I'm fine with, though some can be a bit loud.

Beggars unsettle me more, partly cos it jars my social conscience and partly cos it creates a negative image for the city centre. It is sad the folk are driven to beg and not easy to separate those who are genuinely desperate and those flagging it to fuel addictions (though I accept they are desperate too)

That's what I thought I read as well. 

 

Lets face it. It was a rental of a section of the KCPF by the Council to an Event Company (based in Derby) for their Mutual benefit.

 

What was provided was high priced low grade generic entertainment and off the shelf supermarket type food which was misrepresented as a festival of food and sausages ~ with a search at the gate thrown in. The reputational damage has been done to both The Council and the Event Company. I don't really care about the Derby aspect but I hope the Council has learned a lesson from this and they don't farm off Public Space to fly by night Companies in the future to prop up their fragile finances. 

Think Roger has summed things up pretty well.

So Adrian - Tommysmith who I imagine is a Councillor incognito said that Balfour were responsible for taking bookings for KGPF.  So they get all the flak flying around and yet the Council pocket the rent that would have been charged.  I bet that ran to a pretty penny.

Denise, am certainly not a Cllr, so your detective powers have failed you there. I do know some BBLP employees though hence my belief (not certain knowledge) that this firm take bookings for places like KGPF.

If it pleases you, why not submit a Freedom of Information Request to see how how much was paid by organisers to use the site.

Well, let's see local event organisers step up to the plate and use Castle Green or KGPF as locations more than has historically been the case.

As is always the care, far more people take to social media/internet forums to complain about stuff rather than say positive experiences. So there will be some people out there I'm sure who thought the event was okay or even enjoyed it.

That said, BBLP would be wise to carefully consider whether this outfit came back, in the same format as this year.

Hi Denise,

You post mentions Herefordshire Council, not the City Council.

I would agree that the unitary authority would be the managing agent but believe that booking events is done through BBLP.

Like most of the Council, I don't think there are many HC Parks staff left!

Agree with Aylestone Voice.

Not fair to blame the Council really on this one, being the first time it has been held.I believe to hire events on areas like this, permission is needed form Balfour Beatty, of course the Council are their paymasters though.

Don't believe for one minute it is illegal to temporarily cordon off a small area of land of public open space.

Comparing it with the Food Festival is also daft.

The organisers do (just) seem to have delivered on what they advertised, but the whole event does seem overpriced and of poor quality.

I would hope that BBLP note public feeling regarding this, and not allow it to return. Instead BBLP could advertise/promote/facilitate to the local community that King George is available for use for events.

I remember when the South Wye Big Event used to take place, that was always a good event.

There is a topic about that here

 

The Council figures there will be long term cost savings with these new lights that will outweigh the initial expense so you can see the thinking behind it. I'm not a major fan of the type of light they throw off but as I've got one 20 yards from my front door I can testify that the sideways light with them is virtually nil so you don't get your bedroom illuminated as you would with the old style yellow lights.

 

They're not perfect tho as I've seen two LED lights in Bryngwyn Close that are on at 4pm in June. 

 

Also I'm still mystified why the Council haven't fixed that light bang in the centre of the New Bridge (northbound lane) which is permanently on.

 

Not sure whether lighting on the A49 is the Highways Agency Roger

I understand the problem with the brass lettering was that water was getting in and when frosty it was loosening them.

Something surely that could have been predicted by the designers?

good to have so much choice, but all the OLM eateries are pretty steeply priced.

Usually have some online offers for them, apart from Wagamamas which s a pain as thats my favourite one.

Reviews for them on tripadvisor very mixed too,

Not been to Wildwood, though friends that have been commented portion sizes were not very generous.

Dippy,

Went 3 times, was not invited by anyone, and no follow up by anyone either.

No worries Dippy.

The people I found really friendly but it was very loud and perhaps a bit too modern for my tastes, with a predominantly younger age range (not exclusively though). The teaching was bible based, so got no issues with that element.

I'm a bit more of a traditionalist churchwise.

All salient points Cambo - I think FC interest will run and run!

I would say that a church which is too big is likely to have a different set of and possibly more issues than small to medium sized ones.

Whether or not a new one remains connected to a 'mother church' is not so important IMO.

In the christian world there is one God but many denominations.

Tithing is based on old testament religious practices, though many today still follow this 10% principle.

I believe that church members should give what they can reasonably afford to, based on their own circumstances and conscience.

If Freedom demand 10% to attend or be a member then that is wrong, if they suggest or encourage it then not so bad but putting figures is probably unhelpful.

I know the trees went to get rid of the pigeons that lived in them. Maybe additional greenery that didn't attract a pigeon to sit on it?

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure if he still does the role (as I'm rarely in town) but Alan Jenkins used to do the handyman stuff in town ~ and opening/shutting the gates in Widemarsh Street. He was very good I thought.

 

Yes, I know Alan Jenkins - he is still around but BBLP pull him out of the city centre to do other stuff a lot these days.

There is definitely some element of neglect in High Town and the surrounds, so hopefully the additional janitor from the BID will improve things.

Don't mind at all Dippy.

Church planting may sound horticultural but is basically just starting a new one in a specific area where the there is a perceived need/catchment. Nothing to do with a building as I know of churches that meet in peoples homes in small groups.

Got not affiliation or inclination to Freedom myself, preferring to concentrate on my own faith. Personally, I'm not too bothered about the facts and figures about them, - they will either implode with time or thrive and expand. Is there anything we can do to change this?

Big is not always best!

My opinion is that if a church gets too big, above a few hundred attendees it should sub divide and plant a new church elsewhere.

Anyway , back on topic, it will be interesting to see if Freedom get the old cinema building and what they do with it.

Hopefully we will soon see the handyman in with that the BID team are employing.

Will make a real difference I think to get a dedicated operative doing stuff over and above what Balfour Beatty do (or are supposed to do)